Reflecting device



(No Model.)

' J. P. DROMGOOLE REFLEGTING DEVICE.

Patented May 18, 1897.

FIG. 1.

. WITNESSES Z7nvW yw 6/ 4A INVENTOR: cam 1 mm%ma gfamad 70% 4V" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JOSEPH P. DROMGOOLE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,

REFLECTING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 582,724, dated May 18, 1897.

Application filed December 11, 1895. Serial No. 571,734. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JosEPH P. DROMGOOLE, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reflecting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of my invention to provide a mirror or reflector of any suitable character, with devices or mechanism in the nature of a clamp, by which said reflector may be secured to the hat or cap or other article of clothing of the user in such position with relation to the eye or eyes, that the user may, by looking at said reflector, be able to take observations in a rearward direction without turning his head.

My device is of especial utility to motormen, bicycle riders, oarsmen, and others who find it desirable to be able to ascertain the positions of persons or objects behind them without the necessity for turning their head each time an observation is taken.

In the accompanying drawings I show, and herein I describe, a preferred form of a convenient embodiment of my invention, the particular subject-matter claimed as novel being hereinafter definitely specified.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical central section of the front portion of a hat, upon the rim of which a good form of my invention is shown as seated.

Figure 2 is a horizontal plan of my device, section being supposed on the dotted line a::r of Figure 1, and sight being taken in the direction of the arrows applied to said line.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the spring clamp.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondingparts.

In the accompanying drawings,

A indicates a hat of any usual form.

B is a reflector of any preferred construction and arrangement, conveniently, however, a small mirror mounted in a metal'frame or rim.

O is a clamp-spring, the same being shown as a band of spring metal bent into a U -shape, and the respective extremities of which tend to spring toward each other and into contact, one leg or end, namely, the upper, of said spring clamp being conveniently provided with a cushion or pad c of cork or other suitable material, and the other leg or end being bent to form a cup-shaped recess a.

D is a suspension rod mounted upon the rear of the reflector, and rigidly secured thereto at the points dd, at the top and bottom of the reflector frame, the upper projecting extremity of which rod is entered through an opening or 'slot in the bottom of the cupshaped extremity c of the spring-clamp, and, within said recess, equipped or provided with a spherical head D As will be apparent, when the legs of the spring clamp are spread slightly apart and passed respectively above and below the rim of the hat'and then released, said legs spring toward each other and into contact with the upper and lower faces respectively of the hat rim, the upper leg of the clamp bearing on said hat rim through the pad 0 and the lower leg bearing against the lower face of the hat rim through the spherical head D As will be understood, the spherical head D and the cup-shaped recess, form in effect a ball and socket joint, with the result that the reflector may be rotated to the right or left on theaXis of the suspension rod D, the spherical head D turning with the reflector and the rod to bring the reflector to any desired position of axial adjustment, and, as will be understood, the spherical head D being constantly pressed by the spring clamp against the hat rim, the reflector will retain itself in any position of adjustment to which it may be brought, by reason of the frictional contact between the hat rim and said spherical head.

' If desired, the clamping action of the clamp spring C may be reinforced or intensified by mechanically forcing its legs together, by any such device as that shown, namely, a bolt E passing transversely through both legs and provided below the lower leg with a head 6 and provided as to its upper extremity, which is suitably threaded and projects beyond the upper leg, with an adjusting or clamping nut e.

As will be understood, upon the rotation of said nut c, it will in its travel along the bolt, force the two legs of the clamp more tightly together and impart to the clasp of the clamp upon the hat rim any desired degree of force or strength.

The projection 6 mounted 011 the bolt just above the lower leg of the spring clamp retains said bolt against accidental withdrawal and loss when the clamp nut c is for any purpose removed.

In order to adjust the reflector to any desired angle to the horizon, I provide an adjusting rod F the lower end of which is secured to the mirror, conveniently by attachment to the rod D, and the upper end of which extends past the bight of the clampspring, being secured in said position by the binding spring G shown in the drawings.

The binding spring G is formed as a piece of metal folded flatwise upon itself at a point intermediate of its length and adapted, when mounted upon the spring clamp, to hold said adjusting rod tightly to the spring clamp.

As will be understood, by the manipulation of the adjusting rod F the reflector may be set at any desired angle to the horizon in order that the wearer may take an observation in whatever direction he may desire.

In order to insure the firm engagement of the adjusting rod F to the clamp spring, I form in said clamp spring a pair of apertures f f in substantial alinement with the point of attachment of the adjusting rod F to the rod D, and pass the adjusting rod through both said openings, applying the clamp G to the clamp spring and adjusting rod at the point where said rod emerges from the upper opening f.

Y As will be understood, my improved arrangement enables the widest possible range and adjustment of the reflector.

It will, of course, be understood that the arrangement herein shown and described may vary greatly in its general form and arrangement of parts, in many respects, without departure from my invention.

Thus any form of spring clamp attachment may be used and any form of connection between the spring clamp and the reflector may be employed, the embodiment herein set forth being, while the preferred embodiment, but one of many forms in which my invention may be constructed.

\Vhile I have shown in the drawings and herein described the body of the clamp O as a spring the respective legs of which tend to come together naturally, and the approach of which legs is assisted when desired by the clamp nut c, it is apparent that if the spring C be sufficiently strong the bolt E and clamp nut e may be dispensed with; it will be equally apparent that if the bolt E and clamp c be provided the degree of spring or resiliency present in the spring clamp O is immaterial and said clamp C may in fact be a structure devoid of spring and adapted simply to be caused to bind upon the hat rim through the action of the clamp nut e.

The cushion e and the spherical head D through which respectively the clamp makes contact with the upper and lower face of the hat rim are, preferably, not in alinement with each other, the arrangement being that shown in the drawings in which they are slightly out of alinement, with the result that when mounted in place upon the hat rim the clamp is precluded from swinging to the right or left as might otherwise be the ease, the re sult being in this arrangement that a very secure hold of the device upon the hat rim is secured without multiplying the points of contact between the clamp and the hat rim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In combination, a mirror, a clamp adapted to be removably applied to any preferred part of the rim of a hat, and means for suspending said mirror from said clamp, said means enabling adjustment of the mirror to different angles with respect to the plane of the eyes of the user and to dilferent angles with respect to the plane of the horizon,- substantially as set forth.

2. In combination, a clamp the respective legs of which are adapted to face opposite sides of the rim of a hat, and a reflector provided with a spherical head mounted on a rod projecting through a slot or opening in the under leg of the clamp, the arrangement being such that the upper leg of the clamp is adapted to bear against the upper face of the hat rim and the lower leg to press said spherical head against said hat rim, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination, a clamp the respective legs of which are adapted to face opposite sides of the rim of a hat, a reflector provided with a spherical head mounted on a rod projecting through a slot or opening in the under leg of the clamp, the arrangement being such that the upper leg of the clamp is adapted to bear against the upper face of the hat rim and the lower leg to press said spherical head against said hat rim, and a guide rod attached to the reflector and adj ustably connected to the body of the clamp, substantially as set forth.

at. In combination,tl1e reflectorllthe clamp C provided with the cup-shaped recess, and a spherical head connected to said reflector and mounted in said cup-shaped recess, substantially as set forth.

5. In combination, a clamp 0 adapted for attachment to a hat rim, a reflector movably suspended from said clamp, a guide rod connected to said reflector and extending past the outer end of the clamp, and a binding device adapted to secure said guide rod to said clamp, substantially as set forth.

6. In combination, the clamp 0 provided with a cup-shaped recess, the reflector provided with a suspension rod and a spherical head, the guide rod connected to said suspension rod and engaged in slots in clamp C, and a binding spring G, substantially as set forth.

7. In combination, the clamp 0 provided with a bolt and a clamp nut, and also equipped with a cushion and a cup-shaped recess, a re IIO clamp, a binding spring G,the cushion and the spherical head being out of alinement with each other, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as I 5 my invention I have hereunto signed my name this 10th day of December, A. D. 1895.

JOSEPH P. DROMGOOLE.

In presence of- F. NORMAN DIXON, THos. K. LANCASTER. 

